Onwards and upwards and downwards!

First today - a few acres of solar panels.  Amazing.

Next to Peterborough to visit the worlds highest Lift Lock.  Here's a link for those who are interested.  

The guide - he has 8 kids and he's still breathing!!!!

The fountain in the middle of the lake which we crossed before entering the  Trent-Severn canal.

Opening the sluices on the first lock.  It's a regular lock - very deep, though.  Here's a video link to see this 'live'.

Onwards and past the swing bridge.

Approaching the Lift Lock.  Link to the video is here.

Going up video. 

View from the top.  We were level with the road before the lift.  After we'd reached the top we went further along the canal.  Here's us approaching the 'end of the world' or, rather, the lift lock going back.  Another video here.

More mice

Fortunately not in our house - Tilly the cat doesn't 'do' mice anymore thankfully although I'd really welcome this little tribe.

These guys are from Jane who I had the very great pleasure to meet up with in Canada. What a great time I had with her and the other ladies.  More about that tomorrow.

I'm only showing you one of the pictures so that you're tempted to go here to see the rest!!! I'm also not going to tell you what she said either!!! Am I a tease? YES!!!  You will have to scroll down to see these guys but I promise you it's well worth it.

Can you see the eyes on these little guys? They're different and when I was telling Ruth how much I liked that sort of eye somehow Jane found out and gave me some. Can't wait to make eyes with those beads. 

First few days

Some photos from the first few days with Kelly. The 'hostess with the mostest' and the cutest Beagle ever to live - Hannah.

Next a visit to a candle store - Kokimo Candles. The name is made up from the zip code - clever.  The lady is the candle maker and she allowed me to take her picture and showed me how and where she makes the candles.

Down by the lake and the dreaded geese!!!

Paddling in the lake!!  The water was pretty warm that day.

Kelly's bead store - of course I was tempted and succumbed to the temptation too.  An old git has to have beads!!

Pumpkins outside the Burnham Family Farm Market.  The guys were baking scones, bread etc.  

Trouble's back!!!

Having spent the last two weeks annoying the Canadians I'm now back (although hungover with jet lag) in town and able to annoy YOU!!!!

Over the next few days I'll be giving you a glimpse at my wonderful adventure.

First of all the flights over were fine although this poor old soul had to get her skates on in Frankfurt to get her connection. Bit worrying when you find the first board on entering a terminal posting that your plane is now loading when you've no idea where you are!!! I managed to do a fairly fast walk only to be held up by security!!! The people queuing to go through the process kindly let myself and another young lass jump the queue to get through and complete another long walk to the plane!!

On arrival in Toronto it was a bit disconcerting to be told by passengers around me that 'there's no such place in Canada called Baltimore' (that's where Kelly lives)!!!! Didn't phase the OG, though as when I got off the plane Kelly and Ruth were going to meet me. How would I know them? Well, I'd seen photos of Kelly but had no idea about Ruth. I needn't have worried, though as this is what greeted me!!!! I knew that the next two weeks were going to be fun, fun, fun!!! BC3 (along with his probable owner) had landed!!!!!

Playing with a motif!!

Afraid this is going to be a boring post. Well, most of mine are probably pretty boring but tat's life, eh?

This is a celtic motif that I've had floating around in cyberspace for ages and ages. 

A bit of history here. I first saw what I know as Celtic Tatting in Rosemarie Peel's books. She (as far as I know) invented true celtic tatting. 

By that I mean - making two elements, interweaving them and then 'anchoring' those two elements with a third round. She is a quiet and lovely genius. Sadly Tat Land has lost her to bobbin lace at the moment but hopefully she'll return.

A little bit of this

A little bit of this and a little bit of that!!!! Top and first round is the first link and the second link takes you to the outer (or should it be inner?) round.

These are actually pretty sparkly and I can think of lots of adaptations that can be made.

Well, tat's all for today!!!

Seahorses rule, OK?

Back to the dreaded seahorse again!!!! 

I not only like making these but they're also very nice little presents to give. Each Christmas friends of mine (those I have known mainly since childhood) get a letter and a dangle. These make lovely little gifts - that's if I've got any left when I get back home from Canada, of course!!!  If not it'll be a good excuse to make more and I've a HUGE stock of the bracelets so that's not a worry!!!

Yet once more!

This time I've worked the Starry Button Bracelet with beige and gold beads. Well, mainly!!! It's another present so again I'm nervous that the recipient may not like it. 

Another poor picture again but if only the darn sun would shine life would be better. Just grey days with plenty of rain!!  That's been summer in England this year and it's lovely to be in Canada and away from the gloom.

Rachel turns to beads

Another of my loves is this motif by Rosemarie Peel. This one is, as you know, called Rachel and it's in Tatting Basic Patterns.

Rosemarie designed this some years ago and I simply love it. This version is worked in a size 40 thread (white, varied and plain pink). 

I got slightly carried away this time and simply HAD to add beads. I'm going to make another as this one is so pretty. Next time I'll make it in a size 20, I think!!!

Last seahorse

Another seahorse!!

Just so simple to make and so effective as a sun catcher. This is actually much sparklier than the picture looks.  Again somebody may get this next weekend at the Fringe Element tat days!  Who knows!  I don't!

Starry bracelet grey gold

This isn't a good picture - sorry. I took this before I left for my trip and in a bit of a hurry. This is for a gift and I hope the person who gets it likes it. 

It's one of the starry button bracelets which I simply and unashamedly love making. There - I've confessed to my addiction. Yet another addiction!!!/  It's a good job my addictions aren't into drugs or alcohol or I'd be a very dead person by now!!!!

Another sort of smiley!!!

This is the last 'live' post before I fly tomorrow.  I've scheduled others to 'happen' while I'm away as I've a backlog of posts.  I'll not be putting links on Facebook though as I'll be too darn busy having fun, fun, fun.

Today I have a smiley that Sarah sent me after reading my other post t'other day. This is what she said.

"Hi Jane, The smiley face you shared on your blog today is cute but I thought you might like to see the one I have been tatting for several years which you designed ... it is the center of the sun in your sun and moon and stars pattern 2004. I always like to have a few of these on hand to stick on note cards or pass to someone who might need a smile. Thank you for all the smiles you pass out.

Sarah"

I 'met' Sarah through the TIAS.

The bee is one of Martha Ess's patterns.  So cute, Martha.

New earrings

It's ages since I made a new pair of earrings so I decided that my trip needed a new pair!!! I wanted something 'ethereal' (that's a posh name for me, eh?) so decided to use this pattern and play with beads. 

I should've known better than to try and take photos of these earwigs but I did my best! They are very ethereal and VERY glittery too. 

Ring of Roses Bracelet

Well it had to happen, didn't it? After the bookmark HAD to come the bracelet. 

BUT it needed beads, of course. An almost complete re-write and now it's done. Here's the link.

I've called it the Ring of Roses Bracelet which is obvious really as it's basically the same as the bookmark.

Just got to make room

The story so far!!! Making room for everything in a suitcase is always challenging and that's why I start off packing so early.  Well, I pack and unpack and re-pack etc!!!

I'm now going to add the two fellas below the suitcase picture so I can at least relieve the town of two of these pesky geese. Wonder if I can squeeze in anymore? Also wondering if Canada is ready to have them back but they're going to anyway whatever they say!!!

Doily statistics!!!

Ah, remembered I ought to show you this too!!! 

Sad looking ball of thread!!! Well when I decided to do the Jan doily I bought 3 balls of Aida thread and this is all I had left of the white ball!!!  I had enough of the green but cheated a bit as I had some on a ball already so used probably a whole ball.   Peach - I've still got some left of that to make other odds and ends but honestly don't want to see pastel shades again for a while!!!

I also forgot to tell you that my doily measures 32" across and was worked in size 20 thread.

Whooooppeeeee

Finally it's done and I'm already suffering from withdrawal symptoms!!  You just can't win with BC3 so I give up!!!

I decided a week or two ago that I HAD to get it finished before my trip so that when I get back I've got a 'clear space' to work on a couple of new designs.  I usually 'do' a Christmas one and then, of course, there's the Tat It And See design to sort too. 

So I slogged on at the doily until I'd finished it.   It wasn't a slog actually as right til the end I really enjoyed it.  I've made notes on the whole doily and I'm happy to share.  They won't make ANY sense unless you have the pattern itself with the diagrams (those may be found online somewhere) so I'm not breaking any copyright laws.  Also remember that mine includes beads too but the picots can be re-added if required.   The stitch count works and as I've only used the beads on picots I know that it will be fine for the original version.  I learned a lot making this doily - a great experience. 

For those just reading my blog for the first time this is Jan Stawasz's doily called Moje Robotki.  Not sure if you'll be able to find a copy of the magazine it's published in but I may just sell my copy on eventually as I know I won't be making this one again!!!  There used to be some for sale in Etsy but I can't find any now.

Anybody want to ride a carousel?

Before I start today I've got some news to pass on.  I had a message a few days ago from Teri Dusenbury's daughter telling me she's not well.  She's set up a new Facebook page for people to leave messages which she'll turn into postcards to give to her mum.  If you feel you'd like to leave a message then here's the link to the new page.  If you don't use Facebook then either email me or leave a comment here which I'll pass on.

Now I've GOT to show you this wonderful idea that Melanie Vliet (who lives in Southern California) has been working on for months and months.

She's used several designs and made this carousel with them. It's being entered in a fair so I hope she does really well with it. What a splendid idea.

Bits and bobs.

Today I'm showing you the little covers I've made for my scissors and tiny crochet hook. Not the best sewing I've ever done but that's no problem as these are made just for the trip and will probably be lost afterwards.  Although, having thought again about what I've just written - probably not as putting the covers on these two items will stop me from a) losing them (particularly the hook) and b) sitting on them and having a 'nasty surprise' in my bum!!!

Since taking these pictures I've added a loop to the scissor one and a piece of chain (in case I want to take it apart!!!). Also made another hook cover too as I wasn't too happy with this first one. I've used the little plastic cover that came with the hook and have glued it into the fabric which surrounds it. 

Well if nothing else - it kept me out of mischief for an hour or two!!!